Newly Inaugurated Center of Excellence Imperative for Efficient Law Enforcement: Commissioner General Demelash

Addis Ababa November 16/2024 (ENA)The newly inaugurated Federal Police Forensic Investigation and Research Center of Excellence is pivotal to improve crime investigation and  law enforcement operations, Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael said.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the Forensic Investigation and Research Center of Excellence today.

The Premier shared on his social media channel that just a year and a half ago, when DNA testing was needed, Ethiopia had to rely on external resources.

Today, Ethiopia has established an institution capable of addressing DNAanalysis domestically while also serving neighboring countries, the prime minister stated.

 

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael said the center will be an additional capacity for the work to be done to nurture peace and justice in the country.

The commissioner general noted that the Federal Police Forensic Investigation and Research Center of Excellence is Africa's largest forensic investigation and research centre.

The establishment of the center will serve not only to bring together the services that were previously fragmented but also have modern investigation laboratories, he revealed.

Mainly, the center comprises investigative laboratories that are important for criminal investigation such as document forensic, firearms, arson, explosions, DNA, digital forensics, chemistry as well as latent fingerprints, he pointed out.

 

The Commissioner General further noted that the center of excellence would not only serve as an investigative facility but also play an imperative role to producing qualified human resources in forensic research.

Moreover, the Federal Police Forensic Investigation and Research Center of Excellence will be used to build the capacity of the regional police in the country, he stated. In this regard, a standard place has been prepared to receive and train a large number recruited young people who are qualified for the profession.

The center will be also important for African countries that need Ethiopia's support and help, as well as for scholars from around who conduct research and tranings in forensics.

Head of the Center's Weapons and Managing Various Investigation Process Department Commander, Melese  Bezabih expressed readiness of the center  to properly employ modern technologies in forensics.

 

The establishments of the center will greatly enhance the Federal Police capacity to investigate crimes, Assistant Inspector Habtemariam Esubalew, who is in charge of the Chemistry Department said.